A medieval stronghold occupied by Jacobite forces and used to hold government prisoners in 1746.
Before the Jacobites
Doune Castle was built in the late fourteenth century for Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, whose power made him effectively Scotland's governor. Its great hall, kitchen and lordly apartments explain why the castle could later serve as a defensible regional stronghold.
Occupation and prisoners
During the 1745 Rising, Jacobite forces occupied Doune. After their victory at Falkirk Muir in January 1746, about 150 government prisoners were held here. Several escaped in a story associated with knotted bedsheets, but the castle's larger importance is its practical use within the Jacobite campaign.
History and screen fame
Doune is now widely recognised from film and television. Those later associations can bring visitors through the gate, but they should remain separate from the sourced 1745–46 history rather than being used as evidence for it.
What to look for while you're here
- The cathedral-like great hall and adjacent serving spaces.
- The enclosed courtyard and limited routes by which prisoners could escape.
- Views from the upper rooms across the River Teith landscape.
Before you go
- Visitor parking is very limited; village parking or public transport is recommended.
- The approach includes steep, uneven cobbles and upper rooms require stairs.